student

Each month we will highlight an Ames Yoga Center student, and post their answers to a questionnaire. This month we have selected Cassie Russett.

How
has practicing yoga had an impact on your work and life?

It’s
easy for me to get distracted by the noise of every daily life. A couple
of years ago I was talking with a co-worker about some (in my opinion)
difficult decisions I was trying to make-I was rationing through them from
every angle and at one point he said to me, “have you ever just tried being
quiet?”. After I got over my initial surprise at the frankness of that
statement, I realized he was right. I was creating too much noise for
myself instead of just letting things be.

Practicing
yoga has provided me the opportunity to “be quiet” during the week. It’s
during these times that I can reflect on and pray around situations at work,
school, or other areas and, as a result, approach them with a clearer state of
mind.

What
is the benefit for you in attending 2 classes a week at Ames Yoga Center?

I’ve
always known that physical activity is important for overall health, but I’ve
never been too interested in physical activities like running, going to the
gym, etc...I was involved in the dance program at Iowa State University but,
after I graduated, I couldn’t find a similar outlet. I attended a session
at Ames Yoga Center and really enjoyed the atmosphere.

There’s
a great balance between physical and mental wellness during classes. In
addition to the opportunity to step away from the daily routine, yoga helps me
to increase my awareness of my self-how my body is manifesting stress or how
shallow my breathing is. By breathing through the sequence of poses in
class I am able to release some of that tension while working on strength and
flexibility. Classes are energizing for me.

How
long have you been taking classes at Ames Yoga Center?

I’ve
been taking classes at Ames Yoga Center for one year. I started taking
classes regularly in January ‘10 for an independent study in holistic health.
The independent study ended in May ‘10 and I’ve continued classes because
I found them to be a beneficial addition to my routine.

How
would you describe Ames Yoga Center to a friend?

When
I have described Ames Yoga Center to friends it’s been in a very
person-centered way. The classes are beneficial to people at any level of
yoga experience and the structure of the classes allow for adjustment of poses
and pace. The overall goal of the Center isn’t to ace yoga poses, but
instead to improve quality of life by taking some time each week for the self.

On
top of class, alone, Ames Yoga Center is a great hub for information on holistic
health. There is much to be learned about how to improve personal
wellness in a way that is appropriate for the individual. Not only is
Ruthann a great resource for health, but there is much to be learned about
health and wellness from the other students in the classes. Taking
advantage of all of this knowledge around health has helped me to expand how I
approach my personal health.

What
is your favorite pose or tool of yoga practice and why?

I love Child’s
Pose-it’s feels like a resting pose but there’s so much energy in the breathing
into and lengthening of the spine. And for someone who doesn’t love
traditional “physical activity,” being active while resting is the best
combination.